DM Fang Dragon’s Ruins of Adventure (Inactive)

Game Master FangDragon

Ser I think you had already cast that?
With snarling and yipping the pack of unearthly hounds arrives. The lead one stops just short of the greased area and emits an unearthly howl, sending shivers down your spines!

Eyes blazing, Delenn unfurls an ancient looking scroll. The parchment yellowed and cracking. She scans a finger across it before crying a strange atonal word which somehow felt joyous and wrathful at the same time. Something about this lifts Kardas's heart, buoying his spirits and putting a spring in his stride!

She's cast Heroism on Kardas. Remember inspire courage gives a competence bonus to attacks so it stacks.

Delenn

Ishta Khosiv <----- WE ARE HERE
Kardas Rasalas
Ser Armithia-Seendren
Hounds
Zane Levallis
Azarra

Buffs and Debuffs wrote:

Spoiler:

---- Round 1 ----

Delenn Shield Other Ser, Inspire Courage
Ishta Khosiv Inspire Courage
Kardas Rasalas Inspire Courage, Heroism (500 rounds)
Ser Armithia-Seendren Resist Fire (496 rounds), Inspire Courage
Hounds
Zane Levallis Shield Other, Inspire Courage
Azarra Inspire Courage
---- Round 2 ----
Delenn Shield Other Ser, Inspire Courage
Ishta Khosiv Inspire Courage
Kardas Rasalas Inspire Courage, Heroism (499 rounds)
Ser Armithia-Seendren Resist Fire (495 rounds), Inspire Courage
Hounds
Zane Levallis Shield Other, Inspire Courage
Azarra Inspire Courage

Ishta Khosiv, Kardas Rasalas and Ser Armithia-Seendren are up.

"Bring it on!", yells the swordmage at the otherworldy hounds. He isn't planning to charge headlong through the patch of grease and waits, blade in hand, for the beasts to jump on over into his deadly embrace.

Kardas uses a swift action to activate Arcane Strike. I suppose his other action is to ready an attack? Not sure if the hounds will wait for the grease to disappear.

Apologies; would it still be activated?

The knight stands vigilant. Pointing his magical golden bastard sword at the lead hound, the Paladin growls at it.
Intimidate (Cha) : 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

Intimidate

Grease lasts for several minutes.

Ishta stays in tension, waiting for the perfect moment to release.

Kardas invests his blade with a fraction of his power, it starts glowing softly as he shouts, "Bring it on!"

Ser Armithia looms as his eyes bore into the lead hound. It snarls and shrinks back, intimidated, yet the rest of the pack wasn't so easily cowed and there was a yammering and a snarling as they tensed.

With the words of a spell on her lips, Ishta waited for the inevitable charge, and suddenly the pack surged forwards! The ground was slippery but four legs made them nimble and then they where among the party and everything happened at once!

Zane had been patiently waiting for them and his mace smashed down solidly on the lead hound, making it snarl and whine! Then there was a brilliant flash as Ishta completed her spell and the terrible searing light burned shadow stuff causing the hounds to scream in pain and blunder into each other!

Blind and intimidated, the lead hound took a deep breath and howled his anger! A caustic inky black cloud rolled over Ser Armithia, Ishta, Delenn and Azarra. Zane felt the stinging mist that enveloped Ser Armithia, although the knight's armor spared him from the worst of it. Ishta took the worst of it, her exposed skin bubbling and blistering. The other two managed to evade much of the spray.
Shadow Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

The hound behind also howled, breathing out another roiling cloud of corruption. The lead house seemed immune but Ser Armithia, Ishta, Delenn and Azarra were sprayed once more with corrosive darkness. Ishta and Azarra took the brunt of it and the top layer of their skin started to slough off. Zane again felt the burning liquid wash over Ser Armithia, although once more his armor spared him the worst of it.

Shadow Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8

Rounds till those two can breath again: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2

Stuck behind those in front, the two hounds at the rear snarl in anger before suddenly becoming insubstantial and their appearance seemed to ripple as if seen through water. They then disappeared through the wall to the south!
1d6 ⇒ 1

Delenn

Ishta Khosiv
Kardas Rasalas
Ser Armithia-Seendren
Hounds
Zane Levallis <----- WE ARE HERE
Azarra

Buffs and Debuffs wrote:

Spoiler:

---- Round 1 ----

Delenn Shield Other Ser, Inspire Courage
Ishta Khosiv Inspire Courage
Kardas Rasalas Inspire Courage, Heroism (500 rounds)
Ser Armithia-Seendren Resist Fire (496 rounds), Inspire Courage
Hounds
Zane Levallis Shield Other, Inspire Courage
Azarra Inspire Courage
---- Round 2 ----
Delenn Shield Other Ser, Inspire Courage
Ishta Khosiv Inspire Courage
Kardas Rasalas Inspire Courage, Heroism (499 rounds)
Ser Armithia-Seendren Resist Fire (495 rounds), Inspire Courage
Hounds
Zane Levallis Shield Other, Inspire Courage
Azarra Inspire Courage

Zane Levallis, Azarra, Delenn, Ishta Khosiv, Kardas Rasalas and Ser Armithia-Seendren are up.

Kardas you readied an action. You can make an attack.

Azarra is not happy with some of her skin boiling off, and she steps back as her song starts to falter, but then she rebounds, her song getting stronger, and attacks anyway, knowing that she has to face these hounds or everyone will die.

+2 inspire courage is still active, and she targets the black hound.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 8
Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 27

Damage 1: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 + 2 = 8
Damage 2: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 + 2 = 5

Crit Confirm?: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 22
Additional Crit Damage: 2d6 + 2 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (6, 4) + 2 + 2 + 4 = 18

Also, sorry I can't remember, but I think we already know something about these hounds from the first time we fought them, right? My primary concern is just which arrows to use (regular or blunt)... so if we already know enough about them to know one kind of damage would be better, she chooses that kind.

Once again grimacing as he shared the Helm knight's pain, Zane brought his arm up, waiting for the black hound to be distracted by Kardas before bringing the weapon down once more. But apparently the pain had taken a greater toll than he had thought, and his swing was woefully inaccurate.

Heavy Mace, IC, Flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 + 2 = 11 Geez...I think my d20 average in games is like 5 for the past couple weeks.

"Cut these down, then focus on the two that stepped on through the wall!", barks Kardas as he hacks and hews. His heavy blows rely more so on brute force than on a refined technique or arcane edge. Although, the longsword's blade is covered with a blueish sheen, a product of the swordmage's arcane potential overflowing into the deadly device.

Std action: attack black (or orange, if black is dead) using arcane strike
Readied Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Damage vs Black: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
Regular Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
Damage vs Black: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Ser Armithia brings his golden blade down on Black.
+1 bastard sword,IC, WB: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 1 + 2 = 241d10 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 8

Ishta quickly produces a scroll from her case and starts summoning a Giant Spider!

Zane raises his mace up high thinking he had a good shot, but as he swung he tripped on something which spoiled his attack.

Azarra sights another pair of arrows, pulls the bow to her cheek and releases. One of the arrows had defective fetching and spiraled in an uncontrolled spin towards the wall, but the other struck true, punching through the hound's skull ending it.

With a grimly determined look, Delenn takes a step to the south, raises her wand and whispers the command word. A fat ray of fire stabbed out towards the wounded hound at the back which had just phased through the wall. The beam sears it's body causing it's shadow stuff to boil away.
Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13 Fire Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 3, 2) = 10 <--- MISS

Ishta starts summoning something large and hairy with many legs!

It seemed the tide had turned for Kardas's blade found the blinded hound in front of him and chopped it to shadowy pieces!

Ser Armithia do your target is dead. Do you wish to attack red or green instead?

Ser Armithia are you going to hold?

Ser Armithia moves to engage Red.

Ser Armithia's blade flicks out and the hound tastes Helm's displeasure! badly wounded, the hound snarls in rage before breathing deeply! Once more a fine corrosive mist looking for the world like inky darkness washed over Ser Armithia and Kardas. Once again Zane shared Ser's pain as his abused skin burned.

Shadow Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9

The other hound blinded and uncertain whined and stood it's ground. It's actually got a readied action.

Delenn

Ishta Khosiv
Kardas Rasalas
Ser Armithia-Seendren
Hounds
Zane Levallis <----- WE ARE HERE
Azarra

Buffs and Debuffs wrote:

Spoiler:

---- Round 2 ----

Delenn Shield Other Ser, Inspire Courage
Ishta Khosiv Inspire Courage
Kardas Rasalas Inspire Courage, Heroism (499 rounds)
Ser Armithia-Seendren Resist Fire (495 rounds), Inspire Courage
Hounds
Zane Levallis Shield Other, Inspire Courage
Azarra Inspire Courage
---- Round 3 ----
Delenn Shield Other Ser, Inspire Courage
Ishta Khosiv Inspire Courage
Kardas Rasalas Inspire Courage, Heroism (498 rounds)
Ser Armithia-Seendren Resist Fire (494 rounds), Inspire Courage
Hounds
Zane Levallis Shield Other, Inspire Courage
Azarra Inspire Courage

Zane Levallis, Azarra, Delenn, Ishta Khosiv, Kardas Rasalas and Ser Armithia-Seendren are up.

Ignoring the inky filth that rolls out from the hound; silently saluting Zane for his aid, the gold elf smiles at the doomed demon.
Ser Armithia brings his golden blade down on Red.
+1 bastard sword,IC, WB: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 1 + 2 = 231d10 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 14

Azarra shoots at Green.

+2 inspire courage is still active

Attack 1: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 19
Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 1 + 2 - 2 = 26

Damage 1: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 + 2 = 6
Damage 2: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 + 2 = 10

Ishta finally ends up reading the scroll, which crumbles to ashes, and a giant spider appears. A few seconds afterwards, the spider invokes some holy power and attacks one of the hounds while Ishta projects her signature cold blast towards it.

In order:

Ray of Frost, Inspired: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 = 7
Damage: 1d3 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 = 6

Giant Spider:
Spider's bite, Inspired, Smite Evil: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 0 ⇒ (9) + 2 + 2 + 0 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 3 = 9 + Poison Fort save DC 14 or 1d2 ⇒ 1 Strength damage.

Unsure if he could keep his footing on the magically greased area of the corridor, Zane held his ground, shrugging off the shared pain of Ser Armithia and readying a strike should the hound in the hall come closer.

I'm unsure whether I can move to attack the same hound Armithia is attacking, but I'm assuming I can. If not, Kardas will guard the greased up corridor with a readied attack.

Kardas eyes gleam with a certain amount of madness when he jumps back into the fray, assisting Armithia in taking down one of the wall-shifting devil dogs. "Ha! Hounds do not run with horses! Bark all you want, you're going back to Hell!"

Move action: move
Std action: attack (using Arcane Strike)
Attack vs Red: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

It was a standoff, the dog and Zane both waiting for the other to move. However
Azarra was having none of that, with brutal efficiency she landed a pair of arrows in it's chest with less than an inch between them. The hound crumpled with out so much as a growl.

Meanwhile Ser Armithia and Kardas finish off the last remaining hound, cutting it's head off to make sure.

COMBAT OVER

Looking somewhat shocked, Delenn remarks dryly, "Well that was... Efficient. Perhaps we shall live for a while longer."

She takes a deep breath to steady herself before suggesting, "I suggest we try the area to the west and south. There should be statues in the four rooms arranged around the final angelic gate."

Ser Armithia cleans his sword. The knight then salutes his fellow Watchers, before returning to lead.

Zane breathed easier as the last of the hounds was dispatched, thinking that would at least buy them enough time to finish their task. Holding fast to his holy symbol, he channeled the Morninglord's healing energy throughout the room again, bathing his companions and himself in a rosy pink healing light.

Channel Energy: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 1) = 7

With that task completed, he smiled grimly and followed the Helmite in the direction indicated by Delenn, keeping an eye out for trouble.

Kardas buzzes with energy and unleashes a warcry mixed with laughter to vent some of it. "HAH! There will be no dying under a sunless sky for any of us! Now, let's finish the job and take some arcane souvenirs back home with us!"

I say we continue exploring this place clockwise. So, into the tunnel and then down south to the next corridor leading eastwards. Or, going by the map, towards the room just south of the one we're in at the moment.

Azarra thanks Zane, probably gazing into his eyes for a little too long, and then she checks to see if the dogs had collars or anything on them, just in case.

Sounds good. Is Grease dismissible? If not, it will be hilarious when we all fall down exiting this room. Also, someone else might want to try a perception check in here. I tried earlier, but it was super low so I could have missed something.

Yes, it is dismissable. And sure, Kardas and his familiar (who? oh right, that fox he has!) can assist whoever is best at looking for things.

Aid Another Perception Kardas: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Aid Another Perception Familiar: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
That's a +4 to whoever is willing to do of the lookings.

The Paladin has an awful Perception, so....lol.

Ishta dismisses the grease and the spider. She realises they have been of little use. "I know a lot of magic theory, but need to improve applying the theory to real life..."

When she realises she's actually said that instead of just thinking, she blushes a bit. "Let's get to those statues, shall we?"

Delenn leads you to the center of the Cypher level where there are four chambers each with stout doors and another angelic gate set in the stone floor. As before the engravings depict angels, but there is nothing beatific about these figures. Their eyes are filled with lust, and long snaking tongues reach out, lolling on their cheeks!

The chamber doors are labelled:
Worlds Beyond Collection (Door B)
Chamber of Calling and Binding (Door C)
Chamber of Creation (Door D)
Chamber of Whispered Secrets (Door E)

Map updated. Actions?

Delenn gives the engravings a sharp disapproving look. She seems worried.

The Paladin concentrates on them.

Zane smiled at Azarra's thanks, losing himself for a moment in the half-elven beauty's gaze before Ishta pulled him back to reality with her talk of magic theory. Chuckling ruefully, the priest got back in formation and followed with the others the short distance to the strange angelic carvings, the figures twisted into a parody of themselves. Giving the cherubic figures a distrustful look, the cleric asked the others, "Any preferences to start with?"

If no one raised any objections or offered a better theory, the young priest would scan the door nearest him (D), then throw it open if he saw nothing awry.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

"This one seems perfectly fine, Zane." Ishta stands ready for whatever nasty surprises might be awaiting.

Kardas snarls back at the warped angelic statues. "No wonder this place is locked behind complex mechanisms and magics. Whatever the librarians buried here surely wasn't worthy of seeing the light of day. Lead the way, Zane."

Azarra nods at Zane and gets her bow ready.

Zane carefully examines the door to the Chamber of Creation, it seems to be free of traps although it's locked. There are no noises from within.

Delenn wracks her brain as she considers what might be within. "Ah!" she exclaimed, [b]"I remember now this chamber had some sort of clock work guardian. There's supposed to be a number of rare texts within, detailing the creation of Golems among other exotic topics."

"Ehmm... Can we force this lock, or will we need to break the door?"

The door has 25 hp and hardness 5. It has a break DC of 23.

Azarra unlocks and opens the door for Zane, and then returns to her support position with her bow, allowing him to go first.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Ser Armithia smiles.
The Elf awaits Zane....

The priest nodded at Delenn's offered warning of the possible clockwork mechanism that might be guarding the other side. Zane grinned as Azarra stepped in front of him as he ascertained the locking mechanism was engaged, the half-elf's nimble fingers making quick work of it. Months ago he would have found it concerning that she knew such a trade, but now it just added to the mystique and appeal. He offered a quick, silent praise to Lathander that he was more open in his ideal of 'good' than some other deities.

Once everything was set, Zane met the eyes of the others to confirm they were ready before he threw open the door to see what was inside.

The lock opens to Azarra's deft hands and Zane then throws the door open to reveal a large collection. It encompasses hundreds of books, scrolls, and manuals supposedly detailing the esoteric processes involved in creation magic. Delenn explained they explore the various methods to call matter into being and how to shape that matter in useful ways. One of the shelves here holds dozens of books on engineering and materials, while another shelf contains books describing the steps needed to create golems and other constructs. On the shelves, mixed among the manuals, are wooden cases of tools and various models of creatures and constructs. In one corner you notice an angel statue, which appears to have suffered combat damage (you notice various scorch marks on the walls and floors) which resulted in bits broken away and a large scorch mark on the head. The angel statue is on the south west wall.

Ser Armithia stands in the doorway, scanning the chamber.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

Interesting. There seems to be a silvery mechanical construct under a thick layer of dust propped up in the southwest corner. No way to tell from here whether it still functions, unless we shoot at it, which would probably be a bad idea. So stay wary.

Azarra steps into the room and casts detect magic so she can see if there are any magical writings mixed in with the other texts.

Once having it pointed out by Azarra, Zane saw the mechanical contraption and narrowed his eyes. Mace at the ready, he steps in right behind the half-elven woman and gets ready in case the construct should prove both functional and hostile.

Even though Azarra is already doing it, Ishta also looks for magic auras, in case there's any hidden protection or worse, and she plans on doing it in the four rooms.

Kn Arcana 3rd round: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

A random bit of knowledge strikes Kardas and he blurts out, "Silver is pretty resistant to acids, right? Let's hope its creator didn't pick the type of metal he used for that reason."

What does Death Watch tell us?